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ANG- 



rill-WE-WING-TZONGA-FOII; 



OR, 



MUSINGS OVER A CUP OF 




NEW YORK : 
TMK "KVKNIMi MAII> " OKKICt;, No. •>'!'.> HliOADWAY. 

1808. 




t/ 



n 



TO THE HONORABLE 

AisrSON BURLINGAME, 

ENVOY EXTRAORDINARY TO THE WESTERN NATIONS AND HIGH MINISTER 
PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE FIRST CHINESE RANK, 

AND TO THE MOST MIGHTY MANDARINS, 

CHIH-KANG- AND SUN-CHIA-KEE 

OF THE SECOND CHINESE RANK, 
AND TO THE 

ASSOCIATED HIGH ENVOYS AND MINISTERS, 

AND TO ALI^ THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ANCIENT AND CENTRAL FLOWERY 
KINGDOM WHO COMPOSE THE CHINESE EMBASSY, 

III frcifcr/hil iroiiil fccl/ng tli/s falumc is dedicated^ by 

AN AMERICAN CIHINAMAN. 



Eutered accordiug to Act of Congress, in the year 1SC8 by J. W. Wakd, .Tr., in the Clerk's Office of 
the United States Coiirt for the Southern District of New York. 



£o tl)f (fl)nusr (fnooii (Ertracriiinanj. 



I would not task you, 

I only ask you, 
Kiud Euvoy, to listen a minute ; 

Do you remember 

One bleak December 
You took your scat tii-st in the Senate? 

At Boston, I mean, 

Forty members therein, 
And yo»i the youngest man in it ? 

MjTou Lawrence was there ; — 

In the President's chair 
lie years before had jircsided ; — 

His age and his weight 

Were acknowledged so gi'eat. 

All matt<n'8 of state 
To him were safely confided. 

They sent him down 

From Belchertown ; 
To the body, where stalwart statesmen be; ; 

And their heaviest joy 

Was his avoii'dupois, 
A good four hundred and sixty-three ! 

WTien his seat he took 

The statchouse shook, 
And round the hub the spokes yf>u could see 

Rattle and shake. 

As if an earth<juake 
Were plaj-ing the mischief with earth and sea. 

When the session was done. 

Overflowing with fim. 
They bought a magnificent beaver ; 

And they made a i^lau 

That the youngest man 
Should plaj- the part of the giver ; — 

And with countenance bland, 

Imposing and grand, 
The oldest should be it« receiver. 



So the oldest man there 

Was placed in the chair ; 
Already we've told you his name; 

And the youngest man 

In aU the clan 
Was Anson BurHngame. 

" Aged sir," said he, 

" Before me I see 
" The greatest man in the nation — 

" That chair of state, 

" Proud throne of the great, 
" Through many a long generation 

" Has been worthily filled 
" By the learned and skilled, 

" Whom before I was born you knew, sir 
" But never before, 
" From the days of yore, 

" So completely fiUed as by you, sir !" 

And thus, to-day, 

Our tribute we pay, 
A young, half-developed nation. 

To that eldest state. 

Dense-peopled and great, 

Whose annals date 
Far back to the dawn of creation. 

Let a living band 

Unite our land 
To that of the mandarins ; 

And together we 'U hang. 

Like Eng and Chang, 
Insep'rable Siamese twins ! 




CAME last evening home from town, 
[jf^- From dingy office and dush' books, 

And changed my coat for the dressing-gown 
That hung on one of the entry hooks ; 
Then out of tlic curncr my slipj)ersl took. 
And placed my boots in the empty nook ; 
And having retiii-neil with the heartiest cheer 
The greeting my lady bestowed on her " dear ;'' 
— For we still keep on in the honey-moon style. 
Though married three years is a rather long while — 
I kissed the cheeks of the little one, 
That rolls on the carpet and crows in its fun ; 
And I tickled its ribs and poked its sides, 
And gave it all manner of curious rides, 
While it chuckled and kicked, as I bumped its head 
Up to the ceiling and 'gainst the wall. 
Till its mother grew nervous, and anxiously said : 
" Look out, my dear, or the baby will fall !" 
So I put down the youngster, and yawned out a " Well." 
Then the kitchen-maid tinkled the little tca-bell, 

2 



VI. 

And I sat myself down to my supper that night 
With a feeling of quiet and cosy delight ; 
And I looked at my baby, and looked at my wife, 
And mused to myself on the pleasures of life ! 

Let me ask you, my friends, did you never feel. 

As you 've sat yourself down to your evening meal. 

And attacked the hot cakes with right hearty zeal. 

And relished the biscuits and butter, 

That, of all the blessings that heaven bestows 

To make us forget our sublunar woes. 

And as time wags on, take life. as it goes. 

As we sail o'er its stormy water, 
Of all that can make this world below 

A paradise like the upper. 
The best thing on earth that you or 1 know 

Is a peaceful family supper? 

Our breakfasts we bolt with desperate haste, 

For father must eat and away ; 
Dinner 's a season of wonderful state, 

But supper time comes every day ! 



vn. 

I'liilc lias j)()isoiiecl our bread, and left us instead 
Hurried breakfasts and stately dinners ; 

iJiil our sujtpers are given, a i'orelasle of heaven, 
Uuto us unfortunate sinners ! 

My litiyliood's lionie llirouj^li the vista of years 
How stran!.'ely ilistinet to my vision appears ! 
There sittin-r at supper, a lmpi)y throng, 
flow ealndy the luonients are floating along, 
And the tea, so refreshing, is wholesome and strong ; 
And fagged out with study or weary with play, 
That dear, quiet meal is the crown of the day ! . 

() the fragrant smell of the simmering tea, 
And the song of the tea-kettle singing in glee, 
Have a charm t«i my soul, and there 's music to me 

In the ring of the clattering dishes ! 
And when in due time the. big bell in the hall 
Rings merrily forth its jul)ilant call, 

And the young folks and old folks, the great and the small, 
Arc gathered about the table all, 

I enjoy the height of ray wishes! 



VIII. 

'T is then that the meriy jest goes round, 
And the fetters of form are awhile unbound, 
And the shaclvles of care, that gall and wound, 
Are stricken off, and flung to the ground ; 
With laughter and mirth the table is crowned. 
Till the rafters ring with the joyful sound, 
Such confusion of tongues as never was found 

In the far-famed tower of Babel ! 
What fond recollection of friends we hold dear, 
What scenes still remembered through many a year, 
How much of the bliss that gladdens us here, 

All clusters about the tea-table ! 
And thus as I sat in a musing mood, 
Too calmly contented to taste my food, 
But dreamily sipped my three cups of tea, 
I fell unawares in a revery. 

O, wondrous decoction, what virtues are thine ! 
Thou soothing solace, thou nectar divine, 
0, potent to charm this palate of mine ! 
In hovel or palace thy visit brings 
Contentment to beggars and comfort to kings ! 



IX. 

Aiiacrcnti siiii^ (if tlio s|t;irkliiijz; wine, 

Ami the muses nine 

Still kneel ;it the shrine 
Of Bacchus, the god nf llie frnilfnl vine. 

Not a poet but sings 

Of the crjstal springs ; 
Of the nectar the old oaken bucket brings 

From the cooling well, 

And delights to tell 
Of the lakes and streams, where the naiads dwell, — 

Of the laughing wave. 

That leaps through the cave, 
Where the wantou nymphs of the river lave ; 

And we even hear 

In songs of cheer 
Of cider and punch and lager beer. 
Bu.t tell rae, ye muses, O where is he. 
The bard who has sung the praises of tea ? 

Let the Frenchman prize 
Those joys that rise 
From the cheer the pui pie grape supi)lies ; 



Let the Islamite 

In his cofifee delight, 
As he'sits cross-legged from morning till night ; 

Let the Briton grow hale 

On his porter and ale ; 
Let the Dutchman's lager never more fail ; 

Let the epicure drain, 

Again and again, 
The rare old casks his cellars contain ; 
But grant, oh! ye fates, this blessing to me. 
That I may have ever my good cup of tea ! 

Your Southeys may sneeze 
As much as they please. 

And sing the praises of snuff ; 
Lamb may fluently plead 
For the fragrant weed, 

Which he loved so dearly to puff. 

But a muse like ours 
Of lowlier powers, 

And earth-born pedigree. 



XI. 

Would not wish to ask 
Any lol'ticr task 

Than to tell the glories of tea ! 

Proud genius owes to thee a debt 
That never has been cancelled yet ; 
Authors, whose praises all declare, 
Parsons, who make their people stare, 
Have tasted of thy power divine. 
And plucked their laurels from thy shrine. 

Ye lecturers, who sit up late, 
And read and write and meditate, 
Intent alone on being great, 
A poor dependent throng are ye, 
Dependent on young hyson tea ! 

There at your desks I see you toil ; 
Before you burns the midnight oil ; 
Almost asleep, your drowsy eyes 
Upcn and shut, to sympathize 
With nodding head and laboring brains. 



XII. 

Which yield you nothing for your ])ains ; 
And now you rise ; I see you stand 
Before the stove, and in one hand 
You grasp a tea-pot, and there flows 
A dark brown current from its nose ! 
You talfe one sip — -your ej^es grow bright ; 
Another — Morpheus takes his flight ; 
A third — ^your brain is all aglow. 
Fleet-footed fancies to and fro 
Before your mental vision run 
Like blazing comets round the sun ! 

Ah, magic herb, thy power hath wrought 
Strange wonders in the world of thought ; 
Our heroes now begin to feel 
A rage of literary zeal 

And high scholastic ecstacy ! 
They seize their feathery quills, and lo, 
Like wild deer bounding o'er the snow. 
Over the sheet their fingers go, 
And dark as winter is the flow 

Of ink-floods rolling rapidly ! 



XIII. 

Ami lliroiijrii tlii-ii- lirains, wliit-li rack ami swell 

Willi tliiMights loo big lor iIr-iu lu tell, 

Briglil gleams of wit ami faiioy fly 

Like int'loors .shooting through the sky ! 

Each rouiRled clause, each happy jest. 

Each simile which pleases best, 

Are one ami all, "l is plain to see, 

The gcnuim" pmdnct of strong tea. 

T is thus that sermons, lectures, and orations. 

Reviews, and poems, novels, dissertations. 

And works of talent rare to see 

Are boiled and steeped and cooked in tea ! 

Thou far-iifV land at onr anti|)0(les 
Where poppy odors float upon the breeze. 
And mandarins lie lollinix "noath the trees 
And smoke their long-sieinnied opium pipes in easc,- 
Thou famous land, ancient, revered, and grand. 
Before thee with uncovered head I stand. 
Receive thy tribute ol unmeasured thanks 
From men <>f many nations, ages, ranks. 

4 



XIV. 

Thy mighty rivers with their fertile banks 
Have yielded many a rich and ani])le store 
Of blessings, destined everywhere to pour 
Pleasure and comfort all the wide world o'er ! 

Celestial chemist, with thy dangling queue, 
Who first the virtues of saltpetre knew, 
Thy praises ever shall gunpowder tell, 
And loud-mouthed cannon shall the chorus swell. 
I see thee stand before me proudly now, 
A wreath of glory on th}^ yellow brow. 
Approach, ye mighty warriors, one by one ; 
Come, Wellington and great Napoleon, 
Come, Hero of the West, our Washington, 
McClellan, Hooker, Butler, G-eneral Grant, 
All who can conquer Richmond, all who can't ; 
Come, Andrew Jackson, Taylor, Winfield Scott, 
Ye heroes all, remembered or forgot ; — 
Come, the inventor of gunpowder greet, 
And kneel, and pay your homage at his feet ! 
Shout out old China's praise in tones of thunder, 



XV. 

I'litil llic very iii"Uiiil:iiiis start with wttiidcr ! 

TInii slink away, abashed, iiiuible to requite her, 

Fuv oaves, whijse nilliiig pavements eflloiesce with nitre! 

Yc young anil free and |ialiintic boys, 

Who celebrate " tlie Fonrtli ' with wondrons noise, 

Send up your rockets whizzing through the air. 

And throw your crackers, snajiping, everywhere ; 

Crack your torpedoes at old ladies" I'eet, 

And scare the plunging horses in the street! 

Yes, blaze away! Burn Portland, if you will ; 

'Tis but a l)on-lire — do not take it ill — 

A bon-fire, all in patriotic style, 

A good big squib, that 's measured by the mile ! 

Ah, Young America, your fiery toys, 

Your patriotic, pyrotechnic joys. 

Came first from China, and celestial hands 

First wrought the fireworks of a thousand lands I 

How but for her, aspiring boys, could ye 

Commemorate the birth-day of the free ? 



XVI. 

Yuiir rocourse else would be to rise ;it luoni, 
Strike brazen kettles, blow (he big- lisii-liorii ! 

Ye prudent housewives, riL-li ia thrift and care, 
To China's skill ^^ou owe 3'our China ware. 
Ye landlords, differing not from birds of prey, 
Save having larger, longer bills than they, 
By Chinese art you start each slumbering guest 
From unsubstantial dreams of soothing rest ; 
Ye drowsy lodgers, sleepy travelers, 
The gong that wakes you China claims as hers ! 

Thou horrid gong, what screeching imp resides 

Within the leanness of thy brazen sides? 

The greenhorn hears thee, wakes, and, strange to tel 

He shudders, shrieks, and thinks himself in — well, 

At least in some annoying neighborhood, 

Where all the neighbors are not over good ! 

Machine infernal, tell us why on earth 
Thou wert a creature of celestial birth ! 



XVII. 

Tlinii iioeii'st not answer, lioli) iliy clainni-oiis ton<jue, 
Go liuck, ami dwell thy native hills among : — 
()r art tluiii banished iVmii llieir balni}' air, 
And here must utter wailinirs of despair? 
I will not hlame.thee. for full well I know 
It is not strange, when thou art beaten so. 
That thou shouldsl writhe Itenealh the cruel lilow 
And, exileil, howl out bcllowings of woe ! 
Poor, nuieh atflieted gong, though long abused, 
Thi>u 'r( destined ever to be widely used ; 
Though music's dulcet tones 3-ou strangely lack. 
While use demands it, men will pound your back ! 

Thus (.'hina shows her long established worth 
By scattering blessing over all the earth, 
Kicb silks and satins for our girls and wives. 
Gunpowder, swift to shorten traitors' lives, 
Bright fireworks for onr indepeiidriit boy.s, 
(iay China ware to swell the matrons' joys, 
And gongs jo rouse the sleeping willi llieir noise. 
But not content with these, she strove to find 
A universal boon for all niaidiind ; 



XV III. 

The gods above, her aim were pleased to see, 

And down from heaven they caine, and phmliMl tea 

There is a Chinese baHad, quaint and old. 
And in it the story of tea is told. 

A philosopher wise, 
With great squint eyes. 

Once lived in the days of yore ; 
His queue was as white 
As a ray of light. 

And grave was the look he wore ! 

Long he studied in vain, 
The secret to gain 

That should gladden all mankind : 
He sought for a charm 
That should banish harm 

Away from body and mind ! 
A certain relief 
For human grief, 

The elixir of joy to find ! 



XIX. 

( )iit of doors he sat 
On n lianil)()(> mat 

111 sulk'ii ami sorrowfiil mood ; 
111 siU'iicc lie iiniscd, 
And linidy rcriiscd 

To lasto a iiiorsi'l of food. 

At Iciigtli ill do.s|iair, 
Hotli liaiids ill llir air, 

He iiiiiilorod the (rods on high : 
Ye si>irits, whose home 
Is t'.ie bright, lihic dome 

or the lofty, beauliful sky! 

Confucius, thou 

Til whose worship we bow, 

Whose name we honor and love, 
Oh, list to me now. 
And break me a bough 

From the trees in the groves above. 

Its leaves with care 



XX. 

I '11 steep, and prepare 

A draught for the sons of men ; 
They shall quaff the cup, 
And their woes give up, 

And never more wee}^ again ! 

He paused, and there came 
On wings of flame 

A goddess of beautiful mien ; 
And he saw her stand 
And wave in her hand 

A branch all lovely and green. 

Go, plant it, she said. 
And its roots will spread 

All over the laud ere long ; 
And among mankind 
Though, always you '11 find 

Some traces of sorrow and wrong ; 
This herb shall share 
Your burdens of care, 

And fill your homes with song! 



XXI. 

Tliis Wii.s iill that sliL' said, 
Ami away slie sped 

Faraliifi (ui llic wings ol' ilic wind ; 
Kill (Ir- nation.s now 
Ihink liicii- tea IVoim the Ixmuii 

That the goddc'ss left l.ohind ! 

Snrh were thi' strains of oriental hire 

The Chinese minstrels sung in days of \'ure ; — 

How fnlly is their |iroi)lieoy fullilled ; 

No power ean change what once the gods have willed ; 

And Chinas mighty realms nnite to bless 

The draught that brings them peace and happiness ; 

And all mankind with one accord agree 

Tile rare concoction suits them to a T ! 

Avaiuit, ye reformers, who rant and rate 
On the cost of tea In the country and state ; 
Begone I for I tell von 1 never will hear 
Your pilifid cry of seven millions a year ! 
1 give up my wine to l)e turned in the lake. 
My box of cigars, exulting, yon take ; 

6 



xxir. 

But beware, oh, Alcott and G-rahain and Trask, 
What more of my comforts you venture to ask ; 
For, oh, ye bh:)od-suckers, so hmg as I 'm free, 
I never, no ucYcr will give j^ou my tea! 

tea, thou hast fired the patriot's blood. 
And nerved him to fight for his country's good, 
When England oppressed our free-hearted sires, 
Long patient they stifled their pent-up fires ; 
But justice, outraged, in anger awoke, 
And tore from her neck the infamous 3^oke, 
And Liberty silent no longer could be. 
When tyranny touched our forefathers' tea ! 

The laborer, when his task is done. 
Delights to return at set of sun 

To his waiting board — 

How frugally stored 
With the comforts the poor man's purse can afford ; 
And his toils are forgot, and his troubles flee, 

As with ease-loving lips 

He leisurely sips, 



XXllI. 
In his dcarlv lovcil liniuc, his Imt ciiii of loii ! 

O tea, tlioii idol of ;ill wmiiniikiiiil. 

Tilt HI l)cvoi:i,<io, whore gooil house-wives liinl 

A panacea, (hat they can swear lo 

For all till" ills that llesh is heir to! 

Thou oilest the hiiiires of female tongues, 

And givest uvw \\'j:nv lo wonian's lungs; 

The gossips know well thy virtue and power, 

As they deal their scandal out by the hour ; 

And they sit like harpies over their tea. 

Dissecting poor fellows like you and nie ! 

Sharp talons they have, the chattering crones! 

TTow they strip the flesh iVom Ihcir vic(iui<" bones ! 

And many a tit-bit, dainty and rare. 

They find as they gloat o'er their reeking fare! 

And thus while they sit. like a fiendish crew, 

Back-biting their friends wlimn they lind in a stew. 

Devouring their neighbors they 've got in a pickle. 
They call themselves a benevolent circle ! 
And dust in folks' eyes in order to throw. 
They tell the world they have met to sew ! 



XXIV. 

* 

Oh, yes, they are •sowing — those seeds that will brings 
Only harvests of strife and uickeriog ! 
Alas, that ever snoh orgies should be 
Over an innocent cup (^f tea ! 

And thus as I sat and vaguely mused. 

My wandering thoughts grew strangely contused ; 

And before ni}' vision the picture arose 

Of the far-off land where the tea-plant grows ; . 

Straightway there marched before my wondering eyes 

An embassy in oriental guise. 

Primeval people, rightly named celestial, 

Do you, indeed, commune with things terrestrial ? 

Will wonders never end ? With glad surprise 

We see the golden pavements of the skies 

Keflected in the color of your faces. 

Have ye been hurled from out celestial spaces, 

Like Peris banished from the heavenly land ? 

All that must happen, which the gods have planned. 



XXV. 

So do not stuiul, ami shiver at imi- door ; 

We've room I'or v<>ii, and many millioii.s more! 

And in nnr Iieart of hearts the world sliall lind 

Thi' nnivcrsal homestead of mankind ! 

And so we shout, wilii voiee of living thunder: 

" What (iod hath Joined, let no man put asunder!" 

And, while to eoipiclry we "re slightly given 

Although we know " matches arc made in heaven," 

We iling the angel chorus back again 

With shouts of "Peace on earth, good will to men !" 

Our latch-string is out to men braving the sea, 
More closely ami truly our brothers to be ; 
Now together we '11 drink a strong cup of tea. 
Pledging the health of the embassy ! 
And, bidding our Pegasus gallop along. 
We '11 visit tlie land of the clamorous gong. 

Thou country of junks and (piaint old pagodas, 
I can snuff with delight your sweet smelling odors, 
That are (loating around me, boi'ue by the l)reczc 
From aloe and ca.ssia and camphor trees 

7 



XXYI. 

And a thousand tea-gardens, all lying in view, 
On the banks of the mighty Ki-ang-ku ! 
And lo ! as I stand in speechless surprise, 
And gaze on the wonders that meet my eyes. 
I see from amid the tea- trees near. 
The form of a Chinese maiden appear, 
As she plucks the leaves with dexterous care, 
And strips the slender branches bare. 

Her form and her face 

As she bends o'er the plant. 
Display such a grace 

As well might enchant 
The heart of old Jove, 

Were he suffered once more 
To wander and rove, 

As he did of yore, 
From Olympus above, 

And woo and adore 
The daughters of men, 
Who again and again 

Shall tearfully rue 



XXVII. 

Tlio wool'iil hour wlioii lie raine to woo. 
Her stature is short, and her loatures are thin. 
With nn pheasant eix^'s voile she eolors her skin, 
Like the hidies of rank who live in Pekin ; 
]Jnt her coimtenanee glowri with that natural yellow, 
Thul tinges the lemon when goMeii and mellow. 
And her teeth, like rubies, are red with the hue 
Of the l)rt(l-nnt paste whieh maidens chew. 
And she stains her eye-brows, silky and dark. 
"(^'ith the ebony dye of the Zanya Ixirk 
And her little siiuiut eyes 

lilimmer out through their lashes 
Like a spark when it lies 

Half hid in the ashes! 
Her hair is as black 

As a raven's wings, 
Ami it hangs down her back 
In plaited strings ; 
\im1 clusters of jasmin with cunning arrayed, 
An; twisted and wcnen into llu- lu'aid' 
Her little feet, 
How snug ami neat. 



xxviir. 

In many a silken bandage bound ! 

How tin}' and small, 

As they timidly fall 
With a delicate and bewitching sound, 

Like the feet of the fawn. 

That bounds o'er the lawn, 
When it hears the bay of the hunter's hound ! 

And her nimble hand, 

Like a fairy's wand, 
Over the foliage lightly passes, 

And her fingers fly 

Mid the leaves that lie 
Tangled together in clustering masses ! 

And the leaflets all 

Are held in thrall, 
Before the sway of her queenly beck ; 

And, bowing, thej' all, 

As by magic, fall. 
Into the basket that swings from her neck ! 
Few maidens of China such graces know. 
As the beautiful Yang-Pih-We-Wing-Tzonga-Foh. 



XXIX. 

She wears a louse rube of yelltiw ami giecn, 
And her truwsers are made of pink iiaidieer., 
And are gathered about an ankle,.! ween, 
or as phiinp a pattern as ever was seen ; 
And lier cx(|uisitc foot, 

So tempting ti> vifw, 
is daintily pnt 

In a wooden shoe ! 
And a kerchief uf blue is jauntily laid 
O'er the head of the saffron-tinted maid ; 
And primly 't is pinned 

Snug under lier chin, 
Lest the sportive wind 

Its gambols begin, 
And in rollicking rout, 

And frolicksome freak. 
Should frisk it about 

The maiden's check ! 

A curious pi|)e of porcelain made, 
Doth daintilv rest 



Against her Ijreast, 



XXX. 

And here her opium paste is laid. 

Ye ladies, whose lovely forms and faces 
Ten thousand charms invest ; 

Ye smile, perhaps, at the curious graces 
This Chinese maiden possessed. 

America boasts of her beautiful daughters. 
Of her comely matrons and dames ; 

And admiring nations over the waters 

Accord her the trijjute she claims. 

And though it is ever our pleasing duty 

To bow to your charms with delight, 

If China proclaims her title to beauty. 

Why should we refuse her the right? 

For doubtless the Hottentot glories to honor 
His black and frizzled-haired maid. 
And, charmed with her beauty, gazes upon her 
In her girdle and trinkets arrayed. 



XXXI. 

The Kanitsi'hatka serf, in his underjiroiiiul ilwelliiig, 
Beholds his daugiilcr.s wilh pride, 

And when north winds roar, Jic clings all the more 
To his stunted and fur-eUid bride! 

And Patagonia's stalwart son. 

With admiring ardor expresses, 
In accents low, his love-lorn woe 

To sunbnrnt giantesses ! 

* 

While eliarmed and amazed 

I stood and gazed, 

'i'runslixed by the sight, 

There bnrst on my ear 

Strains didcet and clear, 

AVhieh. eager to hear, 

I drank with delight! 

And her silver voice rang 

With that musical twang, 
Which only is heard in jjrovince of Kwaug, 
And this was the song the maiden sang : 



XXXII. 

" where is the maiden who ever could say 
That she was as happy as merrj' and gay 
As I am, while picking these tea-leaves to-day! 
And throughout all China, no one can deny, 
There ne'er was a lover as brave as Tchangsi, 
And never a maiden as happy as I ! 

My woes all are done, 

And my joj's begin. 

For I marry the son 

Of the mandarin ! 

From the lirst gray dawn 
Of the earliest morn. 

To the fading light 

Of descending night, 
All alone do I stand : 

Through the long summer day, 

In the hot sun's ray. 
And with trembling hand, 
All blistered and tanned, 

I gather the tea 

From the fragrant tree : 



XXXI 1 1. 

And wlicn at length 

The day i.s o'er, 

With wiistcd strength 

I sit at the door 

Of my hut, and spin 

The silk-\vorni'.s thread 
With fingers tliin 



And aching head ! 



My Innnble board is never graced 

With ricli rat-brotii to tickle my taste ; 

No tender young kittens arc served up for me, 

And they even begrudge me my rice and my tea ; 

And when I come home from my dail}' toil 

My meal is locusts and castor oil ! 



Yet all this is nothing so long as I win 



The love of the son of the mandarin ! 
My woes all are done, 

And ray Joys begin, 
Fur I marry tiie son 

( M' till' mandarin ! 
9 



XXXIV. 

My Tchangsi lives in luxurious ease, 

And all that can comfort, and all that can jilease, 

Magnificent dress. 

Or dainty dish, 

Are his to possess 

By simply a wish ! 
With chop-sticks of iv'ry he eats his rice, 
And his savory dish of fricasseed mice. 
Or whatever else his palate may choose, 
Whether bird-nest puddings or shark-tail stews, 
And the tender roast puppy, so luscious to taste, 
All steaming and hot, on his table is placed ! 

And he comforts his soul 

With a cheerful bowl 

Of rich arrack punch. 

Or a goblet of wine 

Pressed fresh from a bunch 

Just plucked from the vine ! 
Yet he swells not with pride like the haughty and great, 
But kindly he looks on my lowly estate ; 
And when he goes out in his sedan chair, 
And rides through the fields in the morning air, 



XXXV. 

lie liids Ill's sliivos, wlio carry liiin, j^o 
Wliuro liL' st't's his Yiiiig-I'ih-Wc-Wiiig-T/.uii^a-Fuli, 
Ami. sitting, he tloigii.s to smile on mo, 
As, blushing, I i)luck tlic Iciidii- bulica ! 
My woes all arc dune, 

And my joys begin. 
For I many the son 

Of the mandarin ! 
The mandarin i.s iianghty and great ; 
And he lives liUe a Uing in sumpluons state, 
.\iid lie wears the three-eyed peacock plume 
And the crimson luUtoii lliat |iriuces assume ; 
And the people in Tear all make him room, 
And bend low the knee 
Whenever they see 

Their imperial lord. 
The old mandarin. 
As lounging in 
Ilis palanquin, 

He journeys abroad ! 
And the four-elawed dragon over his head 
Frightens and freezes his vassels with dread! 



XXXVI. 

In his lofty palace with tent-like roof, 
From the lowly and the humble he keeps aloof, 
And delights to thrust 
The poor in the dust ; 
And what would he say, 
If he only knew 
What Tchangsi to-day 

Has plotted to do ! 

His mother may tear 
Her long grey hair. 

And his father may get 

In a furious fret 
And a terrible stew, 

And in his pet 

May fume and sweat, 
And-jerk off his queue ! 

But little I care 

How they may fare, 
For I know my Tchangsi is true ! 

Then let them storm, 
And let them rave. 



XXXV II. 

His heart is warm 

Ami his .-(111! is brave ! 

My wiics all arc dniie, 

And my ji»ys begin, 

For I marry tiic sou 

Of (ho mamhiriii ! 

Ami soon i siiall see 
My h)Vo by my side, 
And happy and free, 
Together we'll Hec 

O'er the ocean wide ; 
And gaily we '11 ride 
O'er the billowy tide, 

And I 

Ami my 

Tchangsi 
In peace will abide, 
Where a father's pride 
fan never ilivide 

10 



xxxviir. 

Those Souls that are tied 
By the gods above 
In the bonds of love ! 

Then joy, joy to me ! 
I 'm happy and free 
As the humming-bee, 
Careering along in careless glee 
Through the groves of tea, 
For a merry young bride I am soon to be ! 
My woes all are done, 

And my joys begin. 
For I marry the son 

Of the mandarin !" 

When thus she had sung her jubilant lay, 
I leisurely strolled on my curious way, 
And, wondering much what it all could mean, 
I strayed through fields sweet-smelling and green, 
Through mulberry groves, and orange trees, 
Whose branches swayed in the murmuring breeze, 



XXXIX. 

Where the humiuiiig-bird llit.s 

On its tiuv wiiiKS, ♦ 

And the cockatoo sits 

In his pride and sings ! — 
Wlicre tlie wild hean clinil).s witli its tendrils on higb, 
And the onion points its stem to the sky ! — 
Where sweetly blooms the azalia Qower, 
And the clematis twines in many a bower ; 
Where the lordly peony stands in its pride, 
And the gorgeons poppy Ihiiints by its side ! 

And, looking about. 

As I strolled i)n my mute, 

A trille dazed, 

Astounded, amazed, 
By the scenes upun wliidi my eyes had gazed, 

A wonder new 

Burst on my view 

And opened my eyes 

In unwonted surprise! 

A stripling I met, 



XL. 

Who was, as t ween, 

» 

About sixteen, 
All drenched and wet. 
And reeking with sweat, 
And, excited his tread. 

And nervous his gait, 
As onward he sped 

At a furious rate ! 
His scarf of blue 

Hung loose in the wind. 
And his long black queue 

Swung out behind ! 
And wildly he sang 

As he jerked_ along ; 
And the valley rang 

With his desperate song ! 

To get some idea 

Of the strains that I heard. 
Imagine you hear 

In a single word. 



XLI. 

Kverv possible sound 

Of discord and jargon 
That ever was ground 

From a street liand-organ ! 
And blended with these 
We will add, if you jilease, 

The lugubrious owl, 
With its dirge of woe ; 

The clucking bai'u-fowl, 
And the caw of the crow ; 
The cry of llic (juail, 
The orang-outang's wail ; 
The h^'cna's howl, 
The catamount's growl, 
The mouse's s(|ueal\, 

And the kitten's mew. 
And the jtiercing shriek. 

Of the kangaroo ! 
Let all be combined 

On a Chinaman's tongue, 
And imagine the kind 

11 



XLTT. 

Of music he snug ! 

This ditty he sang 

As I watched him go : 
" beautiful Yang, 
" heavenly Yang, 
" rapturous Yang-^ 
" Pih-We-Wing-Tzonga-Foh ! " 
His satin hat was of pea-green hue, 
And his velvet gown of imperial blue ; 
In his girdle of scarlet all richly begilt. 
There glistened a dagger of iv'ry hilt ; 
And a fan-case of silver, fitted to hold 
His tortoise-shell fan of inwrought gold ! 
Of royal yellow his breeches of silk, 
And his stockings the delicate tint of skim-milk ; 
Of crimson velvet his boots were made, 
And gaily were tinselled with silver braid ; 

And wildl}'^ he ran 
O'er valley and playi, 

With the air of a man 



XLIII. 

Coinpk'tcly insane ! 

And every wonl 

Of all lluit I lu-:u-.l 

The poor fellow sing 

As he frautic did go, 

\Va.s, " Yang-Pih-Wc-Wiiig, 
" Dear Yang-Pih-We-Wing, 
" Dear adorable Yantr- 



•■ Pih-Wo-Wing-Tzonga-Foh ! " 



Willi eager sight 

I wateli his Might, 
And I see him stand 

By his Tzonga-Foh. 
He seizes her hand, 

>Vnd away ihcy go ! 
Xo merry lliroug 
Slug the marriage song 

With loml and deaf'ning din;- 
As they waddle along 
No cymbal or gong 



XLIV. 

Or notes of the merry tikin 
Charm the ear of the bride, 
As well satisfied, 
She trots b}' the side 

Of the son of the mandarin ! 
And in a trice 

They force their way through 
The fields of rice 

And the groves of bamboo ! 
No band-box she carried ; — 

And he had no trunk ; — 
But eager they hurried 

To reach the junk ; 
For they feared the wrath of old Chow-Yono-, 
For the mandarin was cruel and strong ; 
And woe to the maid, and woe to her lover, 
If Chow-Yong should their flight discover ; 

And reeking and wet 

With sweltering sweat. 

Impatient they leap 

Aboard the good ship, 



XLV. 

W'liiili .v|ir(>;iils its wliiti' wiiiff.s 

And sails o'er ijir sea 
Wliili- Tcliaiiifsi siiif^s 

III tlic In-iirlit (iC liis ^Ict ! 
Ami iVrcil IVniii the paiiL^ 

( )!' many a woe. 

O'er llic ualiT.^ tlioy gi>, 
Tcliaiiirsi ami his Yaii^- 



J 'ill - W c ■- W iiig-Tzoiiga-Foh ! 



What iiiadmaii is that. 

I>art'-lira(k'(l ami fat, 
Tearing his way thmugli the baiiiboo brakes; — 

The iiiaddcst of wights, 

III the saddest of plights, 
.I.crkiiig his queue every stride that lie takes? 



It is old Chow Yoiig, 
Ami bi'liiml liiiii a lliroiig, 
Kiishiiig d<»wii like a fierce tornado ; 
Willi lii'in|M!i liiiiids 

12 



XLVI. 

For Teliaiigsi's hands, 
And for her the bastinado. 

'Tis vain ! 't is vain ! 

Far out on the main 
The junk bears the lovers awav ; 

But he lifts his eyes 

To the conscious skies, 
Which listen when fathers pray. 
"Gods, shall an impious youth, unchecked, disgrace 
" The storied honor of a stainless race ? 
" Is there a crime of heaven so much abhorred. 
"As his, who_ scorns to obej" his father's woi*d ? 
" Avenge, ye gods, this most ungrateful deed, 
"And leave behind him no degenerate seed ! 
"Ye clouds, whose blackness belts the western sky, 
" Roll up your columns ! bid your lightnings fly ! 
" Ye winds, break forth from out your prison caves, 
" Beat down the junk, and smite the yielding waves ! 
" Thou hungrj^ sea, thy jaws stretch open wide ; 
"The unfilial lover and his base-born bride 
" Be food for fishes underneath thv tide !" 



XI.Vll. 

X<i inoic ili<l lie say, 

l^it stcpitiiiir ill 

Mis |ial:iii(|iiiii, 
Composedly mile away. 

Searee luul tliev sailed, 

And wiTe fairly at case 
On tlie billowy seas, 

Their senses regaled, 

Willi tlie siiiilV (if llic l)reeze, 

Kre a lieree hurricane 

Swept over the main : 

And, sadly afraid, 

They vainly essayed 

To comfort each other. 
And langh at the weather, 

With a show of bravado ; 

But their spirits soon sunk, 

As they sat in the junk. 

And, trembling, shrunk 

From the roaring tornado ! 

And the furious gale 



XLVIII. 

Split the reeling' mast ; 
And the bambnu sail 

Was rent in the blast ! 
And the territied erew, 

In their frenzy, declare 
That the danger is due 
To the riiuawaj pair, 
Who dared to awaken 

The storm-god's frown, 
And in madness have shaken 

His thunders down ! 
" Ye gods," they cry, 

" Who rule the seas, 
" Shall our whole crew die 

" Your wrath to appease? 
" Oh, deign to receive 
" Our sacrifice ; 
" Let the innocent live, 

" While the guilty dies ! " 

Ah, then, what woe 
The lovers know ; 



XLIX. 

Full many a prayer. 
In their deep despair, 
Tliey say mi liic decli 
or lliaL t^liallen'il wrei-k : 

But CdMriicius i'rowns 

From lii.s dwelling on liigli, 
And llie tliunders of Fo 

Are hurled from the .sky ! 
'Plun her head did she rest, 

Overeome by dejeclioi;. 
On a true lover's breast 

That throl)bed with att'ectiou ! 
Her hand in his hand. 

And his arm round her neck, 
A moment they stand 

On the Ijrink of the deck. 

Then over ihcy sprang, 

And plunging they go 
To llir depths below, 

Tchangsi and his Yang- 

13 



Pih-We-Wing-Tzonga-Foh ! 
Sepulchred there, 
We leave the pair. 
■ And now they sleep 
In the brinj'^ deep, 
Where the flonnd'ring whale . 

Makes his slimy bed, 
And shakes his tail, 

O'er the forms of the dead ! 
And the sea-serpent's fold 

Doth in mockery curl 
Round the. limbs, dead and cold, 
Of the misguided girl ! 

And there in the dark 
The ravenous shark 

His vigil doth keep ; 
All slimy his skin, 
And his white teeth grin 

Low down in the deep, 
Where the rays of the sun 



LI. 

Have iiovoi- l)ceii ; — 
Ami ill IcciMiiir fun 

Ho sliakes his fin, 
All clammy and thin, 

And he (laiis it in 

The face of the son of the mandarin ! 



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